Wednesday, July 08, 2009

'He Gave Us All He Had Been Given'

It's such a sad day for those who appreciated Michael Jackson today.

A day of celebration of a glorious life. But sadness that it was taken so quickly and so soon. And denying children of a father and a family of a beloved brother and son. I was so moved by the poem written by Maya Angelou at the memorial I wanted to post it here. As I cried my heart out today I realized that it was for the greatness we lost and perhaps some shame for what a cruel world did to someone so unique. It was the irony that in spite of what little the world gave him at times, this man gave every atom in his being to the dance of life. And for a handful of years we were lucky enough to bask in the glory of that magnificent light. As someone said to me recently, each of us has a flame inside us that needs igniting. Michael did that for me as a 13 year old boy. And though he is no longer among us, I like to think that my flame burns a little bit brighter because of him and his gift of music, dance and wonderment. I carry it with me and I hope that I can be selfless enough to pass it on to anyone who should need to find their unique spark.

We Had Him - By Maya Angelou

Beloveds, now we know that we know nothing, now that our bright and shining star can slip away from our fingertips like a puff of summer wind.

Without notice, our dear love can escape our doting embrace. Sing our songs among the stars and walk our dances across the face of the moon.....

The instant that Michael is gone, we know nothing. No clocks can tell time. No oceans can rush our tides with the abrupt absence of our treasure....​.

Though we are many, each of us is achingly alone, piercingly alone. Only when we confess our confusion can we remember that he was a gift to us and we did have him.

He came to us from the creator, trailing creativity in abundance. Despite the anguish, his life was sheathed in mother love, family love, and survived and did more than that.

He thrived with passion and compassion, humor and style. We had him whether we know who he was or did not know, he was ours and we were his.....

We had him, beautiful, delighting our eyes. His hat, aslant over his brow, and took a pose on his toes for all of us. And we laughed and stomped our feet for him.

We were enchanted with his passion because he held nothing. He gave us all he had been given.....

Today in Tokyo, beneath the Eiffel Tower, in Ghana's Black Star Square. In Johannesburg and Pittsburgh, in Birmingham, Alabama, and Birmingham, England.

We are missing Michael. But we do know we had him, and we are the world.